Nanofiber-based Novel Electrode Architecture for Lithium-Air batteries

基于纳米纤维的锂空气电池新型电极架构

• 批准号: 1236466
• 负责人: Vibha Kalra
• 金额: $ 36.25万
• 依托单位: Drexel University
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2012
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2012-09-01 至 2016-08-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1236466&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Nanofiber; based; Novel; Electrode; Architecture

PI: Kalra, VibhaProposal Number: 1236466Institution: Drexel UniversityTitle: Nanofiber-based Novel Electrode Architecture for Lithium-Air batteries Despite recent advances in the state-of-the-art lithium ion batteries, their energy and power densities are insufficient for transportation applications. This project will examine a novel battery chemistry, namely, Lithium-air, which can exhibit a theoretical energy density of almost 2 orders of magnitude higher than lithium-ion batteries. However, before the promise of Li-air batteries can become a reality, a serious challenge that needs to be overcome and will be the focus of this work is the development of ?nanostructured air cathodes? that optimize transport of all reactants (oxygen, Li+ ions, and electrons) to the active catalyst surfaces and provide enough spaces for incorporation of solid lithium oxide products during battery discharge.The specific objective of this proposal is to fabricate and study process-structure-performance correlation in a novel, hierarchically-ordered nanofiber-based architecture with the aim to develop efficient cathodes for Li-air batteries. A unique triaxial electrospinning technique will be used that will allow core-shell architecture to achieve well-controlled directed material assembly via a simple synthesis procedure. In addition to providing well-defined multi-phase reaction surfaces, the proposed electrode design will exhibit a hierarchical two-level pore structure; macropores from inter-fiber spacing inherent to electrospinning and mesopores, which will be created in the carbon core via controlled nanoscale material assembly. This structure will help optimize oxygen mass transport and surface area and provide sufficient pore space for incorporation of solid discharge products necessary to maximize discharge potential. Owing to the complexity of the proposed architecture, PI?s approach is to first independently understand the electrospinning behavior and process- structure correlation in each of the functional layers of the core-shell nanofiber and then leverage these learnings to study the complete architecture. If successful, this work will develop batteries that possess significantly higher energy storage density than the current state-of-the-art Li-ion batteries. Such ability will allow them to successfully compete in the transportation sector and achieve a satisfactory driving range. In addition, the fundamental knowledge gained through this work on materials processing, structure and electrode design will also benefit supercapacitors and other battery chemistries. This project will involve 1 PhD graduate, several undergraduates and K-12 students/teachers, particularly females and those from under-represented minorities in interdisciplinary research activities via workshops, research-based course and hands-on research experiences.

PI：Kalra，Vibha 提案编号：1236466 机构：德雷克塞尔大学 标题：基于纳米纤维的锂空气电池新型电极架构 尽管最先进的锂离子电池最近取得了进展，但其能量和功率密度不足以满足运输应用。该项目将研究一种新型电池化学物质，即锂空气，其理论能量密度比锂离子电池高出近两个数量级。然而，在锂空气电池的前景成为现实之前，需要克服的一个严峻挑战是“纳米结构空气阴极”的开发，这也是这项工作的重点。优化所有反应物（氧、Li+离子和电子）到活性催化剂表面的传输，并为电池放电过程中固体氧化锂产品的结合提供足够的空间。该提案的具体目标是制造和研究工艺结构一种新颖的、分层有序的纳米纤维结构中的性能相关性，旨在开发锂空气电池的高效阴极。将使用独特的三轴静​​电纺丝技术，使核壳结构能够通过简单的合成程序实现良好控制的定向材料组装。除了提供明确的多相反应表面外，所提出的电极设计还将呈现分层的两级孔隙结构；静电纺丝固有的纤维间间距产生的大孔和中孔，将通过受控的纳米级材料组装在碳核心中产生。这种结构将有助于优化氧传质和表面积，并提供足够的孔隙空间来掺入固体放电产物，以最大限度地提高放电潜力。 由于所提出的体系结构的复杂性，PI 的方法是首先独立了解核壳纳米纤维每个功能层的静电纺丝行为和过程结构相关性，然后利用这些知识来研究完整的体系结构。如果成功，这项工作将开发出比当前最先进的锂离子电池具有更高能量存储密度的电池。这样的能力将使他们能够在交通运输领域成功竞争并取得令人满意的续驶里程。此外，通过这项工作获得的材料加工、结构和电极设计方面的基础知识也将有利于超级电容器和其他电池化学领域。该项目将涉及 1 名博士研究生、几名本科生和 K-12 学生/教师，特别是女性和代表性不足的少数族裔，通过研讨会、研究型课程和实践研究经验参与跨学科研究活动。